WO2024090417A1

WO2024090417A1 - Management device, management device control method, control program, and recording medium

Info

Publication number: WO2024090417A1
Application number: PCT/JP2023/038298
Authority: WO
Inventors: 宣彰倉林
Original assignee: 京セラ株式会社
Priority date: 2022-10-25
Filing date: 2023-10-24
Publication date: 2024-05-02

Abstract

The present invention links in-production lots and lot numbers using a simple and easy configuration. This management device comprises: a lot number acquisition unit in which, when there are a plurality of lots containing a plurality of workpieces processed by production equipment and during a processing period for a certain lot among the plurality of lots, one of a lot number identifying said lot and a lot number identifying a lot other than said lot is acquired a plurality of times; and a linking unit that links, to the certain lot, the most frequent lot number among the plurality of lot numbers acquired during the processing period.

Description

Management device, management device control method, control program, and recording medium

This disclosure relates to a management device that manages lots processed in production equipment.

In production facilities such as factories, production is managed for each lot. Patent Document 1 describes a device in which an operator has a device read a barcode that identifies a lot, and when processing begins, the device notifies a management device of the lot's identification information along with the date and time of the event occurrence.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-140728

In order to solve the above problem, a management device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes an identification code acquisition unit that acquires, multiple times during a processing period for a certain lot among the multiple lots, one of an identification code that identifies the certain lot and an identification code that identifies a lot other than the certain lot, and an association unit that associates, with the certain lot, the most frequent identification code among the multiple identification codes acquired during the processing period.

In addition, a management method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an identification code acquisition step in which, during a processing period for a certain lot among the multiple lots, there are multiple lots each containing multiple workpieces to be processed in a production facility, and the identification code acquisition step acquires multiple times one of an identification code identifying the certain lot and an identification code identifying a lot other than the certain lot, and an association step in which the most frequent identification code among the multiple identification codes acquired during the processing period is associated with the certain lot.

1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and a management device included in the management system. 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between the acquired production quantity and lot number and the time at which they were acquired. FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the production quantity and time shown in FIG. 2, and a diagram showing the timing at which the lot number was acquired. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of linking a production quantity of a lot with a lot number. 13 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the management device.

〔overview〕
The management system 10 according to this embodiment manages lots processed by the production facility 3. More specifically, the management system 10 includes a management device 1 and the production facility 3. The management device 1 acquires a lot number (identification code) of a lot including a workpiece 201 processed by the production facility 3. The management device 1 then automatically links the lot including the workpiece 201 processed by the production facility 3 with the lot number of the lot, thereby managing the workpiece 201 processed by the production facility 3 for each lot.

The production equipment 3 is equipment that processes the workpieces 201. When the workpieces 201 are processed in multiple steps, the production equipment 3 may be responsible for one of the multiple steps. In addition, multiple production equipment 3 may be provided. The production equipment 3 may be provided with an input device such as a keyboard and a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and the processing of the steps may be performed by inputting operations to the production equipment 3 using the input device. The number of workpieces 201 processed in the production equipment 3 is transmitted to the management device 1 as production quantity information at each first time interval.

The workpieces 201 are also managed by lot. For example, the workpieces 201 are stored in one storage box 210 for each lot, and the storage box 210 is assigned a medium BN for identifying the lot number. In the example shown in FIG. 1, lot 20 is assigned "lot number #1", lot 21 is assigned "lot number #2", and lot 22 is assigned "lot number #3" as the medium BN. The medium BN may be a sticker or the like indicating a specific numerical value as the lot number, or it may be a barcode or the like. It may also be one to which an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tag in which information indicating the lot number is stored is attached. The lot number may also be indicated on a sign or the like instead of the storage box 210.

[Configuration of management device 1]
The configuration of the management device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a management system 10 and the management device 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the management device 1 includes a lot number acquisition unit (identification code acquisition unit) 11, a production quantity acquisition unit 12, a linking unit 13, and a memory unit 14. The management device 1 can be configured, for example, as a PC (Personal Computer) or the like.

The lot number acquisition unit 11 acquires the lot number by reading the medium BN at the first time interval. More details are as follows.

As described above, the medium BN indicating the lot number is attached to the storage box 210. Before the production equipment 3 processes the work 201, the operator of the production equipment 3 places the storage box 210 in a position where the management device 1 can obtain the lot number indicated by the medium BN. The lot number acquisition unit 11 acquires the lot number from the medium BN attached to the storage box 210 multiple times at predetermined intervals during the processing period of the work 201 by the production equipment 3. The lot number acquired by the lot number acquisition unit 11 during the processing period of the work 201 is either a lot number that identifies the lot in which the work 201 is included, or a lot number that identifies a lot other than the lot in which the work is included.

For example, if medium BN indicates the lot number itself, the lot number acquisition unit 11 may photograph the lot number and acquire the lot number by performing image recognition. Also, if medium BN indicates the lot number by a barcode, the lot number acquisition unit may be equipped with a barcode reader and acquire the lot number from information read by the barcode reader. Also, if medium BN is an RFID tag, the lot number acquisition unit 11 may be equipped with an RFID reader and acquire the lot number from information read by the RFID reader.

The first time may be a time such that the number of lot numbers acquired during the period in which all workpieces 201 included in the lot are processed is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. For example, the first time may be one minute, or may range from one minute to several minutes. The first time may also be approximately 1/60 of the period from when the production quantity becomes zero to when it next becomes zero. In this way, the first time is not particularly limited, and may be any time as long as there are no adverse effects such as excessive power consumption, excessive strain on the device, or inability to perform accurate linking. The lot number acquisition unit 11 transmits the acquired lot numbers to the linking unit 13.

The lot number acquisition unit 11 may also acquire information including a lot number as identification information, rather than the lot number itself. In other words, the lot number acquisition unit 11 may acquire identification information including at least one of a plurality of lot numbers, each of which identifies one of a plurality of lots, each of which includes a plurality of workpieces 201 processed by the production equipment 3. The lot number acquisition unit 11 may also acquire identification information including at least one of the plurality of lot numbers multiple times during the processing period of each of the plurality of lots.

The production quantity acquisition unit 12 sequentially acquires the production quantities of the workpieces 201 in the production equipment 3 at second time intervals. The acquired production quantities are sent to the linking unit 13. The second time may be the same as the first time, or may be different.

The linking unit 13 performs a linking process between the lot number sent from the lot number acquisition unit 11 and the production quantity sent from the production quantity acquisition unit 12. Details of the linking process by the linking unit 13 will be explained using Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a table showing an example of acquired production quantities and lot numbers and the time at which they were acquired. Figure 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the production quantity and time shown in Figure 2, and shows the timing at which the lot number was acquired.

In the example shown in Figures 2 and 3, the production quantity from time "00:00 to 00:01" is "0" and the lot number is "#1", the production quantity from time "00:01 to 00:02" is "3" and the lot number is "#1", the production quantity from time "00:02 to 00:03" is "6" and the lot number is "#1", the production quantity from time "00:03 to 00:04" is "10" and the lot number is "#1", and the production quantity from time "00:04 to 00:05" is "10". The production quantity at time "00:05" is "10" and the lot number is "#1", the production quantity at time "00:05 to 00:06" is "10" and the lot number is "#1", the production quantity at time "00:06 to 00:07" is "7" and the lot number is "#1", the production quantity at time "00:07 to 00:08" is "4" and the lot number is "#1", and the production quantity at time "00:08 to 00:09" is "0" and the lot number is "#1". Next, the production quantity from time "00:09 to 00:10" is "0", the lot number is "#2", the production quantity from time "00:10 to 00:11" is "2", the lot number is "#2", the production quantity from time "00:11 to 00:12" is "8", the lot number is "#2", the production quantity from time "00:12 to 00:13" is "11", the lot number is "#2", the production quantity from time "00:13 to 00:14" is "11", the lot number is "#2", the production quantity from time "00:14 to 00:15" is "11", the lot number is "#2", is "10", the lot number is "#2", the production quantity from time "00:15 to 00:16" is "8", the lot number is "#2", the production quantity from time "00:16 to 00:17" is "0", the lot number is "#2", the production quantity from time "00:17 to 00:18" is "0", the lot number is "#2", the production quantity from time "00:18 to 00:19" is "3", the lot number is "#2", the production quantity from time "00:19 to 00:20" is "6", the lot number is "#3", and so on.

In this case, the linking unit 13 determines the period from when the production quantity goes from "0" to the next "0" as the processing period, and links the production quantity in this processing period to the lot number that was most frequently acquired in that processing period. In other words, the linking unit 13 determines the most frequently acquired lot number among the lot numbers acquired during the processing period as the most frequent lot number, and links the most frequent lot number to the lot that was processed during the processing period in which the most frequent lot number was acquired most frequently among multiple lots.

In the example shown in Figures 2 and 3, the most frequent lot number (most frequent identification code) that is the lot number that has been acquired the most times in the processor period from "00:00", when the production quantity is "0", to "00:09", when the production quantity next becomes "0", is "#1". Therefore, the lot number "#1" is linked to the production quantity acquired in this processor period. In other words, the workpiece 201 produced in this processor period has the lot number "#1".

Next, the lot number that was acquired most frequently during the processing period from "00:09", when the production quantity is "0", to "00:17", when the production quantity next becomes "0", is "#2". Therefore, the production quantity acquired during this processing period is linked to lot number "#2". In other words, the workpieces 201 produced during this processing period will have lot number "#2".

Furthermore, the lot number that was acquired most frequently during the processing period from "00:17", when the production quantity is "0", to "00:26", when the production quantity next becomes "0", is "#3". Therefore, the production quantity acquired during this processing period is linked to lot number "#3". In other words, the workpieces 201 produced during this processing period will have lot number "#3".

In this way, by setting the most frequent lot number among the lot numbers obtained during the processing of the work 201 as the lot number of the lot that includes the work 201, it is possible to link the lot and the lot number with an easy and simple configuration.

The memory unit 14 stores various information and stores lot management data 141. The lot management data 141 is data that indicates the relationship between production quantities and lot numbers linked by the linking unit 13. An example of lot management data 141 is shown in FIG. 4. As shown in the lot management data 141, the production quantity from time "00:01 to 00:08" is linked to lot number "#1". Furthermore, the production quantity from time "00:10 to 00:16" is linked to lot number "#2". Furthermore, the production quantity from time "00:18 to 00:25" is linked to lot number "#3". The memory unit 14 may be, for example, a non-volatile memory.

As described above, in this embodiment, there are multiple lots (20, 21, 22) each including multiple workpieces 201 to be processed by the production equipment 3. During the processing period for a certain lot (e.g., lot 20) among the multiple lots (20, 21, 22), the lot number acquisition unit 11 of the management device 1 acquires multiple times one of the lot numbers (#1) identifying lot 20 and the lot numbers (#2, #3) identifying lots other than lot 20. Then, the linking unit 13 links the most frequent lot number among the multiple lot numbers (#1, #2, #3) acquired during the processing period to lot 20.

The lot number that is acquired the most times during the processing period of all work contained in a lot is likely to indicate the lot number that corresponds to the lot currently being processed. Therefore, by using the lot number that is acquired the most times (the most frequent lot number), it is possible to accurately and easily link the lot currently being processed to the lot number. In addition, since the lot and lot number can be linked simply by acquiring the lot number, linking can be performed easily and with a simple configuration.

Furthermore, for example, when the lot number is read manually, there may be a discrepancy between the timing of the actual processing of the lot and the timing of reading the lot number. According to the configuration of the present disclosure, even if the timing of reading the lot number is shifted, the linking is performed using the most frequently obtained lot number during the lot processing period, so that the discrepancy in linking the lot and the lot number can be reduced.

[Processing flow in management device 1]
Next, the flow of processing in the management device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of the linking processing executed in the management device 1.

When processing begins and, for example, the storage box 210 is placed in a predetermined position, the lot number acquisition unit 11 acquires the lot number by reading the medium BN (S101, identification code acquisition step). If the first predetermined time elapses (YES in S102), the lot number acquisition unit again reads the medium BN to acquire the lot number. In other words, the lot number acquisition unit 11 repeatedly acquires the lot number at intervals of the first predetermined time.

In parallel with steps S101 and S102, the production quantity acquisition unit 12 acquires the production quantity of the production equipment 3 (S201). Then, the production quantity acquisition unit 12 determines whether or not the processing period has elapsed (S202). If the processing period has not elapsed (NO in S202), the production quantity acquisition unit 12 determines whether or not the second predetermined time has elapsed (S203), and when the second predetermined time has elapsed (YES in S203), the production quantity acquisition unit 12 again acquires the production quantity from the production equipment 3. That is, the production quantity acquisition unit 12 repeatedly acquires the production quantity at intervals of the second predetermined time. The second predetermined time may be the same as the first predetermined time, or may be a different time.

If it is determined in step S202 that the processing period has elapsed (YES in S202), the linking unit 13 links the lot number and the production quantity (S204, linking step). This completes the flow of the linking process in the management device 1.

[Software implementation example]
The functions of the management device 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "device") are programs for causing a computer to function as the device, and can be realized by programs for causing a computer to function as each control block of the device (in particular, the lot number acquisition unit 11, the production quantity acquisition unit 12, and the linking unit 13).

In this case, the device includes a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., a memory) as hardware for executing the program. The functions described in each of the above embodiments are realized by executing the program using this control device and storage device.

The program may be recorded on one or more computer-readable recording media, not on a temporary basis. The recording media may or may not be included in the device. In the latter case, the program may be supplied to the device via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

Furthermore, some or all of the functions of each of the control blocks can be realized by a logic circuit. For example, the scope of this disclosure also includes an integrated circuit in which a logic circuit that functions as each of the control blocks is formed. In addition, it is also possible to realize the functions of each of the control blocks by, for example, a quantum computer.

The invention according to this disclosure has been described above based on the drawings and examples. However, the invention according to this disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. In other words, the invention according to this disclosure can be modified in various ways within the scope of this disclosure, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the invention according to this disclosure. In other words, it should be noted that a person skilled in the art could easily make various modifications or corrections based on this disclosure. It should also be noted that these modifications or corrections are included in the scope of this disclosure.

〔summary〕
A management device according to aspect 1 of the present disclosure has a plurality of lots, each including a plurality of workpieces, that are processed in a production facility, and includes an identification code acquisition unit that acquires, multiple times during a processing period for a certain one of the plurality of lots, an identification code that identifies the certain lot and one of an identification code that identifies a lot other than the certain lot, and a linking unit that links, to the certain lot, the most common identification code among the plurality of identification codes acquired during the processing period.

The identification code that is acquired the most times during the processing period of all work contained in a lot is likely to indicate the identification code (e.g., lot number) that corresponds to the lot being processed. Therefore, by using the identification code that is acquired the most times (the most frequently acquired identification code), it is possible to accurately and easily link the lot being processed to the identification code. In addition, since the lot and the identification code can be linked simply by acquiring the identification code, the linking can be performed easily and with a simple configuration.

The management device according to aspect 2 of the present disclosure may be the same as in aspect 1, but may include a production quantity acquisition unit that sequentially acquires the production quantities in the production equipment, and the linking unit may link the lot with the most frequent identification code, with the processing period being the period from when the production quantity is zero to when it next becomes zero, during which all work contained in the lot is processed.

The above configuration makes it possible to determine the lot processing time based on the production volume, and accurately link the lot being produced to the identification code.

The management device according to aspect 3 of the present disclosure may be the same as that of aspect 2, in which the linking unit links the production quantity of the lot with the most frequent identification code.

The above configuration makes it possible to link the production quantity of a product with an identification code.

In the management device according to aspect 4 of the present disclosure, in any one of aspects 1 to 3, the identification code acquisition unit may acquire the identification codes at a first time interval, and the first time interval may be an interval in which the number of identification codes acquired during a period in which all work included in the lot is processed is equal to or greater than a predetermined number.

With the above configuration, a predetermined number of identification codes can be obtained, enabling accurate linking of lots and identification codes.

In the management device according to aspect 5 of the present disclosure, in aspect 4, the first time interval may be an interval of one minute to several minutes.

The above configuration makes it possible to accurately link lots with identification codes while minimizing power consumption and the burden on the device.

In the management device according to aspect 6 of the present disclosure, in

aspect

4 or 5, the first time interval may be an interval that is approximately 1/60th of the period from when the production quantity is zero to when it next becomes zero.

With the above configuration, if the processing period for a lot is, for example, one hour, the first time interval will be one minute, making it possible to accurately link the lot to the identification code while minimizing power consumption and the load on the device.

The control method of the management device according to aspect 6 of the present disclosure includes an identification code acquisition step in which, during a processing period for a certain lot among the multiple lots, there are multiple lots each containing multiple workpieces to be processed by a production facility, and an identification code acquisition step in which an identification code identifying the certain lot and one of an identification code identifying a lot other than the certain lot are acquired multiple times, and an association step in which the most frequent identification code among the multiple identification codes acquired during the processing period is associated with the certain lot.

The management device according to each of the above aspects may be realized by a computer. In this case, the control program of the management device that causes the computer to operate as each unit (software element) of the management device to realize the management by the computer, and the computer-readable recording medium on which it is recorded, also fall within the scope of this disclosure.

1 Management device 3 Production equipment 11 Lot number acquisition unit (identification code acquisition unit)
12 Production quantity acquisition unit 13 Linking unit 14

Memory unit

20, 21, 22 Lot 201 Work

Claims

an identification code acquisition unit that acquires, multiple times during a processing period for a certain lot among the multiple lots, one of an identification code that identifies the certain lot and an identification code that identifies a lot other than the certain lot;
a linking unit that links a most frequent identification code among the plurality of identification codes acquired during the processing period to the certain lot.
A production quantity acquisition unit that sequentially acquires production quantities in the production equipment,
The management device according to claim 1 , wherein the linking unit links the lot with the most frequent identification code, setting the processing period from when the production quantity is zero to when it next becomes zero as the processing period for processing all work contained in the lot.
The management device according to claim 2, wherein the linking unit links the production quantity of the lot with the most frequent identification code.
the identification code acquisition unit acquires the identification code at a first time interval;
4. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the first time interval is an interval during which the number of the identification codes acquired during a period in which all of the workpieces included in the lot are processed is equal to or greater than a predetermined number.
The management device according to claim 4, wherein the first time interval is an interval of one minute to several minutes.
The management device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the first time interval is an interval that is approximately 1/60th of the period from when the production volume in the production facility is zero to when it next becomes zero.
an identification code acquisition step in which there are a plurality of lots each including a plurality of workpieces to be processed in a production facility, and during a processing period for a certain one of the plurality of lots, an identification code for identifying the certain lot and an identification code for identifying a lot other than the certain lot are acquired a plurality of times;
a linking step of linking the most frequent identification code among the plurality of identification codes acquired during the processing period to the certain lot.
A control program for causing a computer to function as the management device according to claim 1, the control program causing a computer to function as the identification code acquisition unit and the linking unit.
A computer-readable recording medium having the control program according to claim 8 recorded thereon.